Search - Antonin Dvorak, Leos Janacek, Gerd Guglhör :: Dvorák: Mass in D major, Op. 86

The Dvorák Mass in D in Its Original Organ-Accompanied Form

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The only reason to buy this release is that it is the only one readily available of Dvorák's gentle Mass in D in its original form, accompanied only by organ. Dvorák later made an orchestra-accompanied version and that has had several recordings, most familiar of which is the one by Nicholas Cleobury, coupled with István Kertesz's marvelous recording of the Requiem, in a 2CD set at budget price from Decca. The present performance is captured in a vast cathedral acoustic that smudges its sound, and although the performance is unexceptionable, it is not really an ideal performance either. The four soloists and the Orpheus Choir of Munich are fine but not first-rate. The Latin text is not printed, presumably because they are so well-known.



The Mass is coupled with Janácek's 15-minute 'Lord's Prayer', which doesn't sound much like Janácek at all. It is in late Romantic harmonic garb. The text is interesting in that each phrase of the Lord's prayer is used to illustrate a situation (e.g. "The family with a dead child" ['Thy will be done as it is in heaven']). The performance, with harp and tenor soloist -- Irmgard Gorzawski and Robert Wörte -- is quite good, but frankly the music is rather saccharine. Czech texts are not provided but there are English and German translations.



Apparently Günther Hänssler, late of Hänssler Records, for his new label, Profil, has acquired rights to many old Calig and Bayerischer Rundfunk performances. This one is from 1996. Frankly, this one could just as easily have stayed in the vault, although I suppose Dvorák or Janácek completists might want it. Total time for this CD is a paltry 50:54.



Scott Morrison"